[RichP]

These two peaks accessible from the Salmon la Sac area offer high starting points of 4200 ft, so why not do a two-fer? For Red we were able to drive up a logging road numbered 117 on Green Trails just before Cooper Lake. We took this to the last switchback before the road veers west and parked along a spur road that eventually crosses the established trail to the lookout site. We just headed upslope through a clearcut and walked another road to about 4900' where we gained the northeast ridge that leads to the high point of Red. The going was almost too easy when we reached the brush-free ridge and made it to the 5880' summit in less than 2 hours.

Parking at 4200' makes for a short hike

The summit is up there

Mostly easy hiking with little brush above clearcuts

Polallie Ridge

Nice open terrain

Cooper Lake

Almost there

Thorp Mtn, the next hike

Red Mtn Summit

Davis peak across the valley

Small basin below Red Mtn

We walked over to another point a couple hundred yards south since it looked higher and found a register in a water bottle but no pencil. Both points looked about the same.

Don ready to head down

Looking back to north summit

Since it was only 11:30am we looked over to Thorp, which neither of us had done, and decided to make it a double header. From the Knox Ck trail, Thorp is a short 5 mile round trip and about 3 hours up and down.

Starting off on Thorp Mtn

Along Kachess Ridge

Hiking along ridge to Thorp

Lookout in sight

Looking back to Red Mtn from Thorp

Taking a break on Thorp Mtn

Ferns on Knox Creek Trail

Every hike at this point seems like a gift as this late season warm spell will eventually end.

[Bernardo]

Nice photos. Looks like a great day.

[Chico]

[dp]

Anyone going up to Thorp via Knox Creek TH should be aware there is a tree across the road adding almost 2 miles each direction.